The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

Israel has communicated to the Biden administration its desire for Hezbollah forces to be repositioned approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) away from the border in a proposed diplomatic agreement aimed at easing tensions with Lebanon. This information comes from three sources within the Israeli and U.S. governments, as reported by Axios, a U.S. news outlet. Efforts to negotiate such a …

Pope Francis celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday, marking the end of a year filled with significant efforts to reform the Catholic Church, as well as health concerns that have prompted questions about his future in the papacy. On his birthday, Francis enjoyed a cake during a cheerful audience with children and received birthday greetings in St. Peter’s Square. His …

The European Union has initiated an investigation to determine if Elon Musk’s online platform, X (previously known as Twitter), has violated the newly implemented, stringent social media regulations aimed at reducing harmful online content. This marks the first investigation of its kind under the Digital Services Act (DSA), as announced by European Commissioner Thierry Breton via a post on the …

Rafael Nadal has been making strides in training after recovering from a hip injury, yet his coach, Carlos Moya, remains concerned about Nadal’s physical resilience in the demanding environment of Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal, 37, experienced a muscle issue at Melbourne Park in January, leading to a hiatus in his season. He plans to return to competitive tennis at Brisbane …

A stunning evening dress once donned by Princess Diana achieved an extraordinary sale price of $1.1 million at an auction, far exceeding its estimated value and setting a new record for the highest auction price for one of her dresses. This record-breaking sale was announced by Julien’s Auctions, a Los Angeles-based auction house. The dress, a black and blue ballerina-length …

Afghanistan fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq has received a 20-month suspension from the ILT20, a United Arab Emirates-based cricket league. This ban was imposed following Naveen’s failure to sign a retention agreement with the Sharjah Warriors, the team he represented in 2023. As a result of the ban, Naveen is prohibited from participating in the ILT20 seasons of 2024 and 2025, both …

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Israel on Monday was expected to focus on urging the country to de-escalate its extensive combat operations in Gaza. This visit comes as the U.S., despite its unwavering support for Israel’s offensive, seeks to mitigate the severe impact on Palestinian civilians. Over the weekend, France, the U.K., and Germany, all key allies of …

On Monday, Israeli artillery launched attacks on the outskirts of several southern Lebanese border towns, including al-Naqoura, Aitaroun, al-Jebbayn, Dhaira, Yaroun, and Blida. Additionally, a drone strike targeted a building close to the funeral of a Hezbollah fighter in Aita al-Shaab. In response, Hezbollah targeted soldiers at the al-Hamra post. There have been regular exchanges of fire between Israel and …